Tag: breast cancer

I got a cryptic email from someone in the Women’s Center at Ohio University. It was an invitation to come to the OU Women’s basketball game on February 17th. She didn’t want to say much, only that several women would be acknowledged and she wanted me to be there by the half-time presentation.

There are several sporting events each year ... Read More


I love it when I sit down and the words are easy. They just flow, they don’t take too much mental energy and they don’t make me weepy when I re-read them.

These words are not going to be easy. I can tell. Because these are the words that keep coming to my mind: Forgive me.

At the beginning of the school ... Read More


Once upon a time, this happened:

Cozys for the Cure are in some Walmart stores now (mainly in the southern states), but will be in many more stores in October. Look for them in the Housewares department. They are $1.97 and there are seven designs. Perfect for gift giving!

 

 


My seven-year-old son crawled into the chair next to me yesterday morning. It was early, I was spending some time with God, but Ben decided he wanted to spend some time with me.

We sat there, the three of us (God, Ben and me), in one comfy little chair with a blanket tucked around us when Ben asked me a question.

Mom, ... Read More


I had just one question for the doctor: Is this normal?

I’ve been cancer-free for two years, but I still go to The James every three months for a check-up. Yesterday was the day.

I sat in the white, sterile exam room in a chair eye-level with my medical oncologist. Everything in the room looked clinical and uncaring, except for her eyes.

Her ... Read More


So a funny thing happened after I had breast cancer. My daughter’s little “Let’s help Mom” sewing project exploded into something that none of us could have ever asked for or imagined.

Let’s recap.

May 2015: Diagnosed with Stage 2 Lobular Invasive Carcinoma (breast cancer).

July 2015: Single mastectomy.

August 2015: Doctor declares me “Cancer free”; Puts me on Tamoxifen for ten years ... Read More


2018. That’s the date (or at least year) set in my mind for the release of my new breast cancer book. This is the book that shows what the process of reconstruction looks like on a real woman’s body — my body.

But I am only one. One voice, one body, one choice of the many reconstruction options. That’s why I ... Read More


Imagine your reaction if someone told you this…

A woman was sitting in her living room dealing with a terrible ordeal and all of a sudden, a peace that totally goes beyond anything she could understand or imagine or explain came sweeping over her body. In that instant, she suddenly felt happy. Joyful.

Would you think she was crazy?

That woman is me.

You ... Read More


I never knew nipples were such a big deal. Actually, it’s not the nipple, it’s the areola that’s causing all the problems.

When I stand in front of the mirror, I notice two things:

1) The tattoo I had on my reconstructed side has faded and lost pigmentation in some spots. The tattoo artist told me this could happen and offered to ... Read More